Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ayer vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the oldest population (median age 43.1).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Bolton has the most expensive homes ($796k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lancaster | Ayer | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606 |
8,645Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Lancaster and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.